S. FLORIDA MAKES SOCCER HISTORY
Based on fun factor, they might do it again in Miami
Excited Barcelona FC fans celebrate at the historic El Clásico International Champions Cup match against Real Madrid Saturday.
MIAMI GARDENS — So this is what it’s like at sport’s biggest rivalry: Traffic is stuck. Stadium gates are packed. Fans in Barcelona jerseys chant, “Mes-si” for their star. Fans in Real Madrid jerseys counterhalftime chant, “Campeones” — champions — because what’s a rivalry if you don’t rub it in when you can.
It’s two hours before El Clasico Miami, and a publicaddress announcer repeats, “No flags with poles will be allowed in the stadium.” Fans from Texas, California and Canada stand here, as does is an 11-year-old boy from Alabama holding the sign: “I spent my school savings to come to this game.”
Yes, this is what it’s like when El Clasico comes to your side of the world.
I’m not exactly sure what we’re supposed to get out of the whole El Clasico experience beyond this. It was fun on steroids for soccer fans. It was the biggest stage involving club soccer teams in United States history.
It was Lionel Messi scoring in three minutes, four goals by and Marc Anthony performing at the half, both team’s starters playing well into the second half and anyone who paid the inflated money for the tickets surely getting their money’s worth
even if Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t show up. Isn’t that enough? Yes, there was no consequence to Saturday, and on paper it looked like an NBA preseason game plopped in Omaha, Neb. But then the event arrived and it was anything but that. Barcelona played Messi and Luis Suarez into the 60th minute, and Neymar stayed out until the 73rd minute despite possibly being on his way to Paris for a $250 million transfer fee.
So, yes, if you paid the hefty price, you got the event you wanted. The final, cheap seats went for $250 in the hours before the game. These fans were willing to pay to see these teams, too. It wasn’t just for the game.
On Friday night, an estimated 35,000 fans paid $20 each to watch Barcelona and Real Madrid practice. That’s a Marlins homestand. To quote Allen Iverson: “We’re talking practice. Not a game. Practice.” Plus another $20 a car to park.
Some soccer evangelist will attempt to find meaningful consequence in a grand night of just meaningless fun. They’ll translate it into proving how how David Beckham’s soccer venture can with MLS can succeed here. You heard a lot of that talk going around Saturday.
Quick answer: No, it doesn’t. But don’t listen to me. Listen to Ray Hudson, the former soccer star, coach and current voice of South Florida soccer (and Spanish soccer on BEIN network).
“This is wonderful, but there’s no real lasting imact [in South Florida],” he said.
The night’s host at his Hard Rock Stadium said the same.
“I think Miami is a great event city,” Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross said. “That’s what it’s known as. It’s not the great sports city we’d like to think we are. [The MLS] coming in to compete with us, I wouldn’t want to do that.”
Saturday underlined that idea, too. The only other time these teams played outside of Spain was 1982 for a Venezuelan tournament. They have played 234 times with Real Madrid winning 93, Barcelona 92 and having 49 ties.
That’s part of why ESPN brought in a crew of 25, why it was televised around the world and why, yes, 11-year-old Ian Ramos did hold that sign saying he spent his school savings to see the game. He really did, too.
His father said it cost $1,800 for three game tickets plus plane fare and hotel from Birmingham, Ala. If you don’t understand why people paid that for Saturday’s game, you can’t appreciate what Saturday night meant to the Ramos family.
“Probably a once-in-alifetime chance,” Ian said.
He was asked what he’ll do with no school money.
“Start saving again,” he said.
Who knows? If these teams had as much fun as the 66,014 fans at the stadium they might return to this side of the world for El Clasico Miami II.